Bill-receipting machine.



BILL REGEIPTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1905.

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R. S. HAMPTON.

BILL REGEIPTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1905.

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BlLL-RECEIPTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

A lication filed June 20, 1905. Serial No. 266,147.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT SELLERS HAMPTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Titusville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in BillReceipting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for properly dating and receipting a bill and consecutively numbering and dating a coupon and severing the latter.

With large corporations, such as gas and electric lighting companies, &c., it is customary to send out bills at determinate periods for services rendered, &c., each bill composed of a part to be receipted and returned to the customer and a coupon which is to be correspondingly receipted with the bill and retained by the company. Usually if the bills are paid within a specified time a discount is made, and as a rule the last hours of this prescribed period are crowded by those having put off paying beforehand. This creates confusion, and frequently the coupons are lost or mislaid, and the customer is presented with another bill. Furthermore, the arranging of the coupons in order by the company for convenience in the system of bookkeeping takes several days, which is a considerable item to be charged up to running expenses.

According to my invention I propose to provide a machine which will do away with the enumerated inconveniences and accomplish the desired end with as little timev and expense as possible.

Therefore the object of this invention is to provide a machine equipped with duplicate stamping devices, one of which is to receipt and date a bill and the other to successively number the coupon and means for simultaneously severing the coupon.

The invention also comp'rehends improvements in the specific details of construction, the advantage and operation of which will be hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a front elevation. Fig. 5 is a view of a bill and coupon, the same having been stamped by my machine.

The same numerals refer to like parts in all the figures.

preferably detached surfaces 2 and 3 and a 1 represents a base provided withtwo' guide 4, an opening 5 being formed between the surfaces 2 and 3. A cutting-blade 6 is pivoted at 7 to frame 1, and it is adapted to operate in the opening 5. To an extension on thecutting-blade is fastened one end of a spring 8, the other end being fastened to the base at 9. The spring serves to normally hold the blade elevated to receive a bill to be receipted, dated, numbered, and severed. A plate 10 is secured along the side wall of the opening 5 and cooperates with the blade to form a shear cut when cutting a bill.

The base 1 is provided with an overhanging extension 12, connected by a web 13. A frame 14, pivotally connected by links 15,'is supported by the extension 12, and a handle 16, having arms 16, adapted to move parallel with the links 15, are pivoted to the frame at 17 and to the extension at 18. The frame 14 carries two printing devices 20 and 21. Device 20 has type to print on a bill such matter as Paid, the date, and the name of the company receipting the bill, while the other device 21 carries a type to print the date and a number, said device being positioned to print on a coupon adjacent the bill.

The printing devices per 86 form no specific part of my invention except in combination with the cutting-blade, and a detail description of them is not believed to be necessary. However, it is essential to note that device 21 is provided with consecutive-numbering mechanism, so that every time it is operated the number advances one, such mechanism being actuated bya lever 22, con tacting with a spring-arm 23 when the parts are in normal position.

In operation a bill 24 is placed against the guide 4 and on the surfaces 2 and 3, and handle 16 is drawn down toward the base, as shown in dotted lines. In drawing down the handle the frame 14 and its printing devices are likewise moved, bringing the printing device 20 on the bill and receipting it and the printing device 21 on the coupon to date and number it. In the operation of stamping or printing a lug 27 on frame 14 comes into contact with the blade 6 and drives it down and the coupon is severed. Upon the return of the handle to normal position a spring-arm 26 prevents the bill following the knife, as will be readily understood. As the arm 22 contacts with springarm 23 the numbering device is actuated to number the next coupon one number higher than the one preceding, and at the same ITO 1. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with a base, cutting means, a pivoted frame carrying printing devices, inking means for inking the type, and means normallykeeping the printing devices away from the inking means, and means for swinging the printing devices toward the base.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising a base, a cutting-blade pivoted to the base, a spring for returning the cuttingblade to normal position, a swinging frame carrying printing devices to receipt and date a bill, and date and number a coupon, means for swinging the frame toward the base to print, the movement of the frame contacting with the blade and severing a coupon from the bill, and means advancing one of the printing devices when the frame is returned to normal position, to consecutively number the coupons.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a sup ort for a bill, a frame movable toward or f fom the support, a receipt and date stamp carried by the frame, a date and consecutive-numbering stamp carried by the frame, a severing device, means for m oving the frame toward the support to receipt a bill and date it, date and number the coupon, and sever the coupon, and means for changing the number of the consecutive-numbering device when the frame is returned to normal position.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a pair of printing devices mounted on a pivoted frame, one of said devices having a receipt and date stamp and the other a date and consecutivenumbering stamp, a base with which the printing devices cooperates, means for swinging the frame toward the base to receipt a bill and date and number a coupon, and a cutting-blade mounted on the base for severing the coupon from the bill, the cutting-blade being in the path of and operated by the frame when it is swung toward the base to do the printing.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a base and frame, a pair of printing devices mounted on a pivoted frame, one of said printing devices bearing a receipt and date stamp, and the other device being a date and consecutive-numbering stamp, the consecutive-numbering device contacting with the frame of the base to operate the former, a cutting-blade and means for swinging the pivoted frame toward the base to receipt and date a bill; date and consecutively number a coupon; and sever the coupon from the bill in one operation.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting-base, a knife pivoted to the base, a frame pivoted to the base and carrying two printing devices, one of said devices bearing a receipt and date stamp and the other device bearing a consecutive-number and date stamp, the latter being operated by contacting with the base, a handle pivoted to the base, and a link connection between the handle and the pivoted frame, the pivoted frame being operated by the handle to swing the printing devices toward the base to operate the knife to sever the coupon,receipt and date the bill, and date and consecutively number the coupon.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with a base, a pivoted frame bearing a pair of printing devices to receipt a bill and a coupon thereof, pivoted links connecting the frame and thebase, a handle pivoted to the base and the frame, and a knife for severing the bill from the coupon when the frame is swung toward the base to do the printing.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a base, a pivoted frame bearing a pair of printing devices to receipt a bill and a coupon therefor, one of said devices having a consecutive-numbering device operated by contacting with the base, links connecting the frame and the base, a pivoted handle, means connecting the handle and the frame, a pivoted knife, means for returning the knife to normal position after operation,

the swinging of the frame to perform the printing operation contacting with the knife to sever the bill from the coupon.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT SELLERS HAMPTON. 

